Expulsion fuse mounting



M y 1934- J. c. RAH

EXPULSION FUSE MOUNTING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 10. 1931 May 15, 1934. RA 1,958,496

EXPULSION FUSE MOUNTING Filed Dec. 10, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwvemtoz JmqM/CM Patented May 15, 1934 PATENT OFFICE 1,958,496 EXPULSION FUSE MOUNTING Joseph C. Rah, Chicago, 111., assignor to Delta- Star Electric Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 10, 1931, Serial No. 580,114

18 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in expulsion fuse mountings wherein it is desired to provide a fuse mounting adapted to support a fuse in such a manner that it may be removed entirely by means of an insulated stick without necessity of grasping the fuse, either with the hands or with tongs.

It is the object of my invention to provide a fuse mounting which not only may be disconnected from the circuit by means of an insulated stick, but which may be removed entirely from electrical connection with either side of the line without the necessity of touching the fuse. Expulsion fuse mountings have been provided heretofore arranged so that one end of the fuse may be disconnected from the mounting by the use of an insulated stick. Once the fuse was in this disconnected position, however, it was necessary to grasp the fuse with the hands or with tongs in order to entirely remove the same. In my construction, it is possible to disconnect the fuse from the circuit with an insulated stick and then by merely changing the position of the stick, it is possible to lift the fuse bodily from the mounting,

thereby removing the same entirely out of electrical connection with either side of the circuit by means of the stick. In this way, it is not even necessary for the operator to closely approach the fuse as the same may be removed easily and quickly by the use of insulated sticks even eighteen feet or more in length. i

The common type of expulsion fuse mountings support the fuse in a manner to be operated from the top end of the same. When the fuses are supported in this way, the disconnection of the top end of the fuse fromthe mounting permits the fuse to move into a position from which it is very difficult to entirely disconnect the fuse unless the same is grasped either by tongs or by the hand. Even though ways of supporting the fuse disconnected at the top from the mounting in position to be removed, by an insulated stick have been provided heretofore, the danger of lifting the fuse out of the lower mounting connection and up into contact with the upper mounting is always present. disconnecting of the fuse first from the bottom of the same and then lifting the fuse from the top mounting is an important forward step in 5 the art;

It is a feature of my invention that the fuse cartridge is mounted on an angle so that there will be no danger to the operator in case of arch flame if the fuse should blow while being replaced.

Supporting the fuse at an angle in connection Accordingly, the

with the disconnecting of the fuse first at the bottom of the same and then at the top, protects the operator from practically any danger usually accompanying replacement of a fuse cartridge. When the fuse is connected at the bottom, it naturally has a tendency to drop into a more vertical position, being pivotally supported at the top. This tendency is assisted by means of a specially designed spring adjacent the mounting of the upper end of the fuse which acts to hold the fuse away from the bottom mounting when this bottom mounting is disconnected. The provision of this specially constructed spring obviates any danger of arcing during the time the hook stick is being changed from one disconnecting position to the other.

It is a feature of my invention that the upper portion of the explusion fuse mounting is resiliently supported and acts to keep the fuse stretched between the upper and lower portions of the mounting at all times. A ood electrical contact between the fuse and the mounting is insured at all times by this feature.

My fuse mounting comprises a resiliently mounted top hook portion and a firmly secured lower block portion, having a hook or latch formation. These top and bottom portions are not vertically alined but the lower mounting is set in to support the fuse at an angle. The top and bottom mountings are separated by an insulator. A fuse having oppositely disposed lugs may be dropped in the upper hook member and the fuse may be swung into contact with the lower block mounting to complete the circuit. Eyes are provided at each end of the fuse in order that the same may be removed first at one end and then the. other. In this way, the complete removal of the fuse for replacement may be made with the use of a hook stick, regardless of whether the fuse wire is blown or not.

These features, together with other details and novel objects of my invention will be more fully and clearly set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the fuse and mounting.

Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the expulsion fuse and fuse mounting illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a central cross sectional view of the fuse and mounting,

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the fuse being removed from the fuse mounting in expulsion which the fuse has just been disengaged from the lower contact block by means of a hook stick.

Figure 5 illustrates the fuse disengaged from the lower contact block in the position normally attained by the fuse after being disengaged from this lower contact block.

Figure 6 illustrates the fuse being lifted from the fuse mounting by means of an insulated hook stick.

Figure '7 illustrates the manner in which the lower end of the fuse is engaged with the lower contact block.

The expulsion fuse mounting A is adapted to be supported by the cross arm B illustrated in dotted outline in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. A mounting bracket C is clamped over the cross arm B and connects this cross arm with the longitudinal center of the insulator 10. The mounting bracket C comprises a strip 11 bent to form an open rectangular arm which may be somewhat rounded at one end to fit around the insulator 10. The arm 11 is provided with cross members 12 which are drilled to accommodate bolts 13 adapted to straddle the cross arm B and extend through a clamping plate 14 positioned on top of the cross arm; As illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, it may be seen that the arm formed by the strip 11 is in this manner fastened securely to the cross arm B. A bolt 15 extends through the arm 11 to hold the arm which fits around the insulator 10. This bolt 15 may be tightened to draw the sides of the arm 11 together to clamp the insulator securely in place.

The top surface of the insulator 10 is inclined,

as illustrated in Figure 2, and to this inclined surface 16 is secured a pair of spring leaves 17 and 18, by means of a bolt 19 and an eye-bolt 20. The leaf 1'7 is somewhat shorter than the leaf 18 and acts to bear against this longer leaf and to support the same in the bending thereof. The top contact hook 22 is connected by means of bolts 23 to the extended end of the spring leaf 18. The top contact hook 22 comprises an attaching plate portion 24, which portion is connected to the spring leaf 18 and a bifurcated or yoke-shaped hook end. As illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, and Figures 4 to 7, inclusive, of the drawings, the bifurcated end provides two separate hook members 25 which are spaced apart sufiiciently to permit the fuse cartridge D to be inserted therebetween. A cable clamping or connecting member 26 is secured adjacent the top contact hook 22 by one of the bolts 23 while the other bolt 23 serves to connect the spring member 27 to the top contact hook 22. The spring 2'7 is somewhat loop-shaped and is adapted to bear against the fuse cartridge D with considerable pressure when this cartridge D is inserted in the top contact hook in a manner which will be hereinafter fully described.

The lower contact block 28 is secured to the lower end of the insulator 10 by means of bolts 29 and serves to engage and hold the lower end of the fuse cartridge D. The lower contact block 28 is bifurcated in a manner similar to the formation of the top'contact hook 22 and is formed with spaced apart guide arms 30. Each of the guide arms 30 is provided with an arcuated cam surface and a recess 32'for holding the fuse car-- tridge D in contact position. The cam surfaces 33 on the arms 30 act to guide the cartridge into contact position in a manner which will be hereinafter described.

threaded over the end of the casting 36. Thecasting 36 is drilled to form a continuation of the opening through the fibre tube 34 and one end of the fuse element 38 may be secured between the cap 37 and the top end of the casting 36. 'Adjacent the threaded opening for accommodating theend of the fibre tube 34, is formed in the casting 36 a circular groove 39 adapted to receive the end of the porcelain tube 35.

At the opposite end of the fuse cartridge D, I provide a collar casting 40 of metal which bears against the porcelain tube 35 and which is secured in place by means of a nut 42 which is threaded on to the fibre tube 34. In this way, the porcelain'tube 35 is clamped securely over the fibre tube 34 between the top casting 36 and the bottom casting 40. An elongated eye or loop 43 is attached integrally with the lower casting 40 and a somewhat similar elongated eye or loop 44 is attached to the upper casting 36. The hook end 45 of the insulated hook stick E may be inserted through these eyes or loops 43 and 44 for detaching the fuse cartridge D. oppositely disposed outwardly extending lugs 46 project both from the top casting 36 and from the bottom casting 40. The lugs 46 on the top casting 36 are adapted to pivotally support the fuse cartridge D in the top hook end mounting member 22 and the lugs 46 on the lower casting 40 are adapted to rest in the aperture 32 in the arms 30 when the fuse is in contacting position.

In operation, the fuse may be inserted in place or removed for replacement easily and quickly and without the necessity of grasping the same with the hands or with tongs.

position. It may be seen that the lugs 46 on the lower casting 40 are resting in the aperture 32 of the arms 30 and that the lugs 46 on the upper casting 36 are resting in the hook end 25 of the top contact hook 22. The cartridge D is being removed in Figure 4 of the drawings. Removal of the cartridge D is accomplished by inserting the hook end 45 of the hook stick E in the eye or loop 43 and exerting a slight downward pressure on the stick. A downward pressure is transmitted through the fuse cartridge D to the top contact hook 22 which flexes downwardly somewhat due to the spring leaves 17 and 18. When the lugs 46 on the lower casting 40 are free of the notch 32, the'fuse cartridge D may pivot outwardly away from the insulator 10 and the lower contact block 28. The outward pivoting of the fuse cartridge D is aided by the action of the spring 27 bearing against the cartridge D along the inner surface of the same. The spring 2'7 acts to hold the cartridge D in the position illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings, after thelugs 46 have been disengaged from the notch 32. This feature obviates any danger of arcing between the fuse D and the lower contact block when the lower end of the fuse D is in disconnected position.

When the lower end 'of the fuse cartridge D has been disengaged and is pivoted into the position illustrated in Figure 5, the hook stick E is removed from the lower loop 43 and is inserted into the upper loop 44. By exerting an upward pressure upon the stick E when in this position, the fuse cartridge D is lifted from the hook end contact Figure 2 illustrates. a side view of the fusecartridge D in contacting 22, as illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings, and is then entirely free from the fuse mounting. The fuse element may then be removed or replaced at will without danger to the operator.

When the fuse cartridge D is to be returned to its mounting A, the hookstick E is inserted through the loop 44 and the cartridge D is lifted by the stick and the lugs 46 on the upper casting 36 are dropped into the top contact hook 22. This process is merely the reverse of the action illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings. When in this position, a slight downward pull is exerted upon the stick E. This moves the lower end of the cartridge D toward the lower contact block 28 and flexes the spring leaves 17 and 18 slightly. When in contact with the lower contact block 28, the lugs 46 ride along the cam surface 33 flexing the spring leaves 1'7 and 18 to a greater extent. When the lugs 46 reach the aperture 32, however, the spring leaves 1'7 and 18 pull them into normal position, illustrated in Figure 2, whereupon the hook end 45 of the stick E may be removed from the loop 44. It is thus obvious that the insertion of the fuse cartridge D is even more simple than the removal of the same. The spring 27 bears against the top casting 36 and assists in making a good electrical contact between these parts at all times. The spring leaves 17 and 18 keep the fuse mounting slightly in contact with the lugs 46 at either end of the fuse cartridge, insuring a good electrical contact between these lugs and the mounting. Therefore, my mounting is very efficient and is exceedingly simple.

I have provided an expulsion fuse mounting adapted to support a fuse cartridge in such a way that it may be removed entirely by means of an insulated hook stick. The fuse cartridge is mounted on an angle so that the operator is in no danger of being exposed to arch flame if the fuse should blow while he is replacing it. The

cantilever spring arrangement at the top of the mounting insures positive locking of the cartridge in position and provides necessary contact pressure. The loop-like spring also prevents any possibilty of the cartridge springing out of the upper contact hook for any reasons. The cartridge is disconnected from the bottom contact block before being disconnected at the top, thus permitting the cartridge to be merely hooked into position.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of operation of my expulsion fuse mounting, and while I have attempted to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood, that this is only illustrative of a means of carrying out my invention and that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An expulsion fuse mounting including a flexibly supported hook member for supporting one end of an expulsion fuse, a latch contact engaging the other end of the fuse supported by said hook member, said flexibly supported hook bending to permit the fuse to be engaged in said latch contact.

2. A expulsion'fuse mounting in combination with an expulsion fuse including, a flexibly supported hook member for supporting one end .of the expulsion fuse, a latch contact for engaging the other end of the fuse, and spring means adapted to bear against said fuse to hold said fuse separated from said latch contact when not engaged therein.

3. An expulsion fuse mounting in combination with an expulsion fuse cartridge including, hook means pivotally connecting electrically one end of said cartridge, spring means for supporting said hook means, spring means connected adjacent said hook means adapted to bear against said cartridge supported in said hook means, a latch connector adapted to engage the other end of said cartridge, means on said connector for flexing said spring hook supporting means as said cartridge is inserted therein, said spring bearing means holding said cartridge normally away from said latch connector when not engaged therein.

4. An expulsion fuse mounting including, a fuse cartridge, lugs on said cartridge, resilient hook supporting means engageable with said lugs for supporting said cartridge pivotally, a rigid latch connector for engagement with said lugs on the other end of said cartridge when the cartridge is supported by said hook means, and insulator means for spacing said supporting means from said connector.

5. An expulsion fuse mounting including, a fuse cartridge, means for detachably and pivotally supporting one end of said fuse, means for engaging the other end of said cartridge detachably under spring tension, said cartridge bodily movable for detaching one end of said cartridge, said pivot means supporting said cartridge, and said cartridge then movable from engagement with the pivotal supporting means.

6. An expulsion fuse mounting including, a fuse cartridge, means for pivotally and detachably supporting the upper end of said fuse cartridge, means for locking the lower end of said cartridge under spring tension, and eye means adapted to be engaged to move said cartridge bodily longitudinally for disengaging the lower end of said cartridge whereupon it may be lifted from said upper supporting means.

7. An expulsion fuse mounting including, a fuse cartridge, an upper contact hook, means for pivotally and detachably securing said cartridge in said upper contact hook, a lower contact block, rigid latch means in said block, spring means for holding said cartridge between said hook and said block under spring tension, eye means engageable with an insulated hook stick for disengaging the lower cartridge end from said block, means for pivoting said cartons from said contact block when disengaged, and eye means engageable with said'hook stick to lift said cartridge from said upper contact hook.

8. An expulsion fuse -mounting including, a fuse cartridge, upper contact means for pivotally and detachably supporting said cartridge, lower contact means for engaging the lower end of said cartridge, spring means for holding said cartridge suspended tightly between said contacts, means engageable with a hook stick to flex said spring means by moving said cartridge bodily longitudinally for disengaging said cartridge from said lower contact, and means for lifting said disengaged cartridge from said upper contact.

9. A fuse mounting including, a fuse cartridge,

hook stick for disengaging said cartridge from said upper contact.

10. A fuse mounting including, a fuse cartridge, means for pivotally and removably securing one end of said cartridge, rigid means for engaging the other end of said cartridge under spring tension, means for engagement with a hook stick on said cartridgewhereby said cartridge may be carried into engagement with saidsecuring means, means holding said cartridgepivoted out of contact with said rigid means when not engaged thereby, means for pivoting said cartridge intoengagement' with said cartridge rigid engaging means, and means for engagement with 15 a hook stick for unlatch'ing and pivoting said cartridge out of contact with said engaging means.

11. An expulsion fusemounting including, a fuse cartridge, an insulator, a contact means flexibly connected to one end of said insulator,

'a rigid contact means secured to the other end of said insulator, means for pivotally supporting said fuse cartridge in said flexibly connected contact, means for engaging the other end of insulation means for holding said contacts in spaced relationship, said upper contact extending beyond said lower contact to support said cartridge on an angle, means for engagement with a hook stick to disengage said cartridge from said lower contact to swing away from said lower contact, and means engageable with a hook stick fordisengaging said cartridge from said upper contact to entirely remove said cartridge without bodily contact therewith.

13. An expulsion fuse mounting including, an insulator, a spring arm means extending from one end of said insulator having a hook on the outer end thereof, a relatively short latch arm extending from the other end of said insulator, a tubular expulsion fuse, means projecting from said fuse for engagement in said hook and latch to hold said fuse in an angular position and under spring tension between the supporting ends on said insulator, and eye means engageable with a fuse stick for removing said other end of said expulsion fuse from said short latch arm without bodily contact therewith to prmit said fuse to swing out of contact with said short latch arm.

14. An expulsion fuse mounting including, an insulator, spring means projecting angularly from one end of said insulator, and having a supporting hook on the outer end thereof, a bifurcated latch arm on the other end of said insulator extending virtually at right angles from said insulator, and an'expulsion fuse angularly supported between 'said hook and latch in operative position longitudinally movable for disengagement with said latch.

15. An expulsion fuse mounting including, an insulator, a bracket for supporting said insulator between the ends thereof, a spring arm angularly disposed on one end of said insulator having a fuse receiving hook on the outer free end thereof, a short rigid latch projecting from the other end of said insulator, and an expulsion fuse hav-' ing means for mounting the same between said spring arm and said latch in operative position. 16. An expulsion fuse mounting including, an

insulator, means for supporting the same, hook and latch ends projecting from said insulator in a manner to support the expulsion fuse angularly disposed with'the vertical and removable in relation to said insulator with the expulsion end of the fuse extending away from the operator when attached and an eye engageable with a fuse stick for removing said fuse from its-connection with said latch at the lower end of the fuse to permit the fuse to swing outwardly on said hook. 17. An expulsion fuse mounting including, an insulator, means for supporting said insulator, bracket members extending from the ends of said insulator adapted to removably support an expulsion fuse extending angularly to said insulator, and under spring tension, and means for automatically swinging the expulsion end of the fuse away from the mounting and insulator upon releasing the same on one end thereof. 1 18. An expulsion fuse mounting including, an insulator, a long upper arm secured thereto, a relatively short lower arm secured to the insuno I lator, a fuse cartridge, removable, pivotal con- 

